April 4, 2005 -- Luz Kellar- Prime Cuts Manager, "I was coming to work when I saw the fire department and ambulance."

Tenants and clients at this shopping strip on Lee Trevino were evacuated as firefighters fought a blaze.

Jesus Lopez- Prime Cuts, "I'm worried about our clientele and the damages to our store."

The fire started at Flores Jewelry....where cyanide pellets and an oxygen tank are used on a daily basis. Those two elements made this fire especially dangerous to fire fighters and people in the surrounding area.

Lt. Mario Hernandez- Fire Marshal's Office, "From there it went to a full blown hazmat incident, at this time we have hazmat crews inside trying to contain it."

Fire officials say cyanide, used to clean jewelry, is a poisonous gas that can affect the heart and brain. In fact it's used in the gas chamber.

Cyanide fumes can spread through the air and it can be harmful to anyone that breaths it in. The oxygen tank, used for welding jewelry, could intensify the fire.

Hernandez, "It can react to the fire and if it burns it lets out toxic smokes and we don't want to endanger fire fighters or investigators when they go back inside."

The Hazmat crew was able to contain the 45 gallon container of cyanide pellets and the oxygen tank with no incident.

Rosalinda Diaz- Property Owner, "It was pretty scary I was very worried and concerned about my tenants but mainly I'm glad nothing major happened."

The damage was contained to the Jewelry Store. Those damages estimate to 30-thousand dollars.